Strong August growth for online sales

Figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) show the amount of purchases made over the web increased by 19.8 per cent last month, compared to the same period a year earlier.

This is the highest growth figure the organisation has reported since it began taking records in 2012.

Helen Dickinson, BRC director general, stated: "Customers are really responding well to retailers who have worked hard on developing websites that are attractive and provide customers with a fulfilling user experience."

Online sales accounted for 16.5 per cent of total non-food sales in August, up from 14.8 per cent a year earlier.

The BRC said growth was spread across all categories, with furniture sales increasing particularly fast.

Ms Dickinson claimed these figures bode well for retailers, as online trade will continue to strengthen in the build-up to Christmas.